medicine

This was not a news article I expected to be reading in 2026. It seems the easy to reach coal seams in the Appalachia have already been mined resulting in miners needing to breakthrough silica to get to more.

Silica dust is 20 times more toxic than coal dust alone and contains fine particles that are easily inhaled. Silica particles cause lungs to fight back with fibrotic tissue that builds and builds, severely inhibiting the ability to breathe.

Because of this the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has found, "coal miners in central Appalachia are suffering from the incurable and fatal lung disease at the highest rates in nearly 50 years."

It's a sad state of affairs.

I discovered this article through The Morning News.

A video by Luther Clayton that gives a behind the scenes look at how donated blood is used in emergency sitautaions and a non-profit blood biker service, Freewheelers EVS, that is responsible for keeping the blood in circulation.

I will give away virtually all my wealth through the Gates Foundation over the next 20 years to the cause of saving and improving lives around the world. And on December 31, 2045, the foundation will close its doors permanently.

The post lists the accomplishments of the Gates Foundation and some future ones too! Among them:

Today, the list of human diseases the world has eradicated has just one entry: smallpox. Within the next couple years, I expect to add polio and Guinea worm to the list. [...] I’m optimistic that, by the time the foundation shuts down, we can also add malaria and measles.

That's incredible. Discovered via HackerNews.